Decorative waste receptacle liner

ABSTRACT

A waste receptacle liner  10  having a decorative pattern  30  printed on both the inside surface  14  and outside surface  16  of the liner  10  and the method and process for making same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to waste receptacle liners or trash bags,specifically decorative waste receptacle liners or decorative trashbags.

[0003] 2. Background

[0004] Waste receptacles, trash containers, garbage cans, and trashcansare common depositories for refuse. These receptacles are commonlyplaced throughout homes, offices, and common areas of businesses orbuildings open to the public. To maintain the cleanliness and long-termusefulness of these waste receptacles, a liner, trash bag, or garbagebag is usually selectively inserted inside of the receptacle to collectrefuse, litter, garbage, debris, or trash. These liners or trash bagsare used to avoid any residue from refuse that would otherwisecontaminate the interior surface of the waste receptacle. Use of wastereceptacle liners promotes cleanliness and deters the unnecessary spreadof germs and bacteria that would otherwise remain in the wastereceptacle. Continued use of waste receptacle liners promotes goodhealth by the substantial elimination of the spread of diseases andother harmful viruses or sickness causing agents commonly associatedwith waste.

[0005] When a waste receptacle liner is used, the liner facilitatesrelatively easier removal of the waste from the waste receptacle. Thisis especially beneficial when receptacles are used which frequentlycontain refuse producing a pungent odor, or refuse, which would attractpests if left inside of the waste receptacle. While these prior wastereceptacle liners allow relatively easier and more sanitary dispositionof waste, they suffer from several drawbacks.

[0006] One drawback associated with these prior liners is theirsubstantial lack of any aesthetic design or decorative qualities. Priorwaste receptacle liners are usually, without limitation, white, black,clear, or a solid color. These previous liners are not aestheticallypleasing and do not add to or enhance the aesthetic nature of a roomwhere the liners are used. In an area of a home or office which isdesigned to be aesthetically pleasing, prior waste receptacle liners canbe an eyesore and detract from the overall aesthetic qualities of theroom.

[0007] Moreover, prior waste receptacle liners do not have anydecorative designs printed or applied to the inside surface of theliner. When a waste receptacle liner is operatively placed inside of awaste receptacle, the liner hangs on and folds over the opening of thereceptacle. Only the inside surface of the liner is exposed andviewable. Without a design on the inside of the liner, the plain surfaceor plain color of the liner is exposed in plain view and is placed in aposition which may be aesthetically unpleasing. The lack of a printeddesign does not allow for a user to gain any aesthetic usefulness fromthe liner itself.

[0008] An additional drawback of prior waste receptacle liners is thatprior waste receptacle liners lack substantial durability. The level ofthickness affects the quality and durability of the waste receptacleliner. Thin waste receptacle liners tend to tear or rip easily.

[0009] There is therefore a need to provide a waste receptacle linerwhich overcomes some or all of the difficulties and drawbacks associatedwith the previously delineated prior methods; providing a wastereceptacle liner with a decorative design or pattern printed on theinside surface and the outside surface of the liner; and providing arelatively thicker and more durable decorative waste receptacle liner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is therefore a first object of this invention to provide adecorative waste receptacle liner that overcomes some or all of thevarious drawbacks of the prior art.

[0011] It is a second object of this invention to provide a wastereceptacle liner with an aesthetically pleasing design.

[0012] It is a third object of this invention to provide a wastereceptacle liner that has a decorative design on the outside surface ofthe liner.

[0013] It is a fourth object of this invention to provide a wastereceptacle liner that has a decorative design on the inside surface ofthe liner.

[0014] It is a fifth object of this invention to provide a decorativewaste receptacle liner formed of relatively thicker material than priorwaste receptacle liners, thereby making the liner more useful and moredurable.

[0015] According to a first aspect of the present invention, adecorative waste receptacle liner generally comprised of a material witha decorative printed designed applied to both the inside surface and theoutside surface of the liner is provided and assembled.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a firstmaterial having a pattern printed on both sides is provided to create adecorative material. This decorative material is then trimmed, folded,and the sides sealed to form an appropriately tapered and sizeddecorative waste receptacle liner suitable for placement in a wastereceptacle containers.

[0017] Further objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The various advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art by reading the followingspecification and subjoined claims and by referencing the followingdrawings in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembled decorativewaste receptacle liner.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the decorative wastereceptacle liner shown in FIG. 1 and operatively placed inside an opaquewaste receptacle.

[0021]FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the decorative liner shownin FIG. 1 in a “filled” state.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a flowchart describing the method or process by whichthe decorative waste receptacle liner is assembled.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a decorative wastereceptacle liner 10 for use within a conventional and commerciallyavailable waste receptacle 20, made according to the preferredembodiment of the present invention. The liner 10 has an opening 12 inthe top of the liner 10. Liner 10 contains an inside surface 14 and anoutside surface 16. An ornate, decorative, and/or artistic design 30 isprinted on both the inside surface 14 and the outside surface 16 ofliner 10. According to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, without limitation, waste is placed inside liner 10 throughopening 12.

[0024] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, wastereceptacle liner 10 is manufactured from a conventional and commerciallyavailable resilient and durable material such as and without limitation,plastic, polyethylene, “PET”, and/or a wide variety of other similarmaterials with a thickness 64 of approximately 1.5 mils. Liner 10 ispreferably made from a combination of visually stimulating andartistically pleasing colors and designs. While a stripe design is shownin FIG. 1, it should be known that other patterns such as a flowerpattern, a dot pattern, a paisley pattern, or any other visuallypleasing or artistic design may be used. In one non-limiting embodimentof the present invention, liner 10 is made from a material which islustrous, shiny, or has foil-like or reflective qualities.

[0025] Referring again to FIG. 1, according to the preferred embodimentof the present invention, the waste receptacle liner 10 has a height 38which is greater than the length 40 of receptacle 20 and is shaped toconformably fit within receptacle 20. In one non-limiting embodiment,height 30 is equal to approximately thirteen inches, length 34 is equalto approximately fifteen inches, and width 32 is equal to approximatelyfour inches.

[0026] Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoingdescription that the broad teachings of the present invention can beimplemented in a variety of forms and dimensions. For example andwithout limitation, referring to FIGS. 2, in operation, waste receptacleliner 10 is selectively and conformably placed inside an opaque wastereceptacle 20.

[0027] Referring now to FIG. 2, waste receptacle liner 10 is placedoperatively within opaque waste receptacle 20. The liner 10 isselectively “folded” or secured over the upper ridge portion 62 ofreceptacle 20. In this manner, liner 10 covers a portion of receptacle20, and the inside surface 14 is exposed through the liner opening 12and on this outside portion of receptacle 20. When the liner 10 isoperatively placed inside receptacle 20, exposed, the printed pattern 30on inside surface 14 of liner 10 is visible.

[0028] Referring now to FIG. 3, the waste receptacle liner 10 issubstantially filled with waste. In operation, the waste receptacleliner 10 is substantially closed or “tied” shut with a conventional andcommercially available “twist tie” 42. While liner 10 is substantiallyfilled with waste, the design 30 printed on outside surface 16 remainssubstantially visible.

[0029] Now referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a flowchart orblock diagram 50 describing the method and process by which decorativeliner 10 is assembled. In step 52, a first material is provided. Thisfirst material is manufactured from a conventional and commerciallyavailable resilient and durable material such as and without limitation,plastic, polyethylene, “PET”, and/or a wide variety of other similarmaterials. As illustrated in step 54, a printed design is applied to thetop surface and bottom surface of the first material provided in step52. The printed material in step 54 is then trimmed as illustrated instep 56. The material is trimmed in accordance with a predeterminedpattern. The waste receptacle liner 10 is assembled in step 58 and step60 from the trimmed material illustrated in step 56. The trimmedmaterial provided by step 56 is then folded as illustrated in step 58.The opposing sides of the folded material in step 58 are sealed asillustrated in step 60. This process produces the final waste receptacleliner 10 as shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] Referring again to FIG. 4, in one non-limiting embodiment of thepresent invention, step 52 and step 54 may be obviated by providing apre-printed decorative material. Once provided, the material may betrimmed according to step 56 and assembled according to step 58 and step60.

[0031] Also referring to FIG. 4, in one non-limiting embodiment of thepresent invention, step 52, step 54, and step 56 may be obviated byproviding a pre-printed decorative material of a shape substantiallysimilar to the decorative material as trimmed in step 56. Once provide,the waste receptacle liner 10 may be assembled according to step 58 andstep 60.

[0032] Also referring to FIG. 4, in one non-limiting embodiment of thepresent invention, step 56 may be performed after performing step 58. Ina further non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, step 56 maybe performed after performing both step 58 and step 60.

[0033] It is understood that various inventions are not limited to theexact construction illustrated and described above but that thesepreviously delineated inventions may be varied without departing fromthe scope of the inventions as described in the following claims.Moreover, nothing in this Application for Patent should limit the scopeof Applicant's invention in any manner.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for producing a decorative wastereceptacle liner comprising the following steps: providing a layer offirst material having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface;selectively applying a printed design on said top surface; selectivelyapplying a printed design on said bottom surface, thereby forming alayer of decorative material having a pattern printed on said topsurface and said bottom surface; selectively trimming said decorativematerial using a selective pattern; folding said decorative material;and sealing said decorative material along the adjacent sides of saidtop surface and said bottom surface, thereby forming a waste receptacleliner with an inside surface and an outside surface with a printeddecorative pattern on said inside surface and said outside surface.
 2. Amethod for producing the decorative waste receptacle liner in claim 1 ,wherein said first material is comprised of a plastic.
 3. A method forproducing the decorative waste receptacle liner in claim 1 , whereinsaid first material is lustrous.
 4. A method for producing thedecorative waste receptacle liner in claim 1 , wherein said decorativematerial has a selective level of thickness.
 5. A decorative wastereceptacle liner made by the process of: applying a first printed designto the top surface of a first layer of a first material having anopposing bottom surface; applying a second printed design to saidopposing bottom surface of said first layer of said first material,thereby creating a second layer of decorative material with said firstprinted design applied to said top surface and said second printeddesign applied to said bottom opposing surface of said second layer ofsaid decorative material; selectively trimming said second layer of saiddecorative material; folding said second layer of said decorativematerial thereby aligning parallel opposing edges; and sealing saidparallel opposing edges of first layer of said decorative materialthereby forming a waste receptacle liner having an inside surface withsaid first printed design applied thereon and having an outside surfacewith said second printed design applied thereon.
 6. A decorative wastereceptacle liner made by the process in claim 5 , wherein said firstmaterial is comprised of a plastic.
 7. A decorative waste receptacleliner made by the process in claim 5 , wherein said first material islustrous.
 8. A decorative waste receptacle liner made by the process inclaim 5 , wherein said decorative material has a selective level ofthickness.
 9. A decorative waste receptacle liner comprising: a wastereceptacle liner having an inside surface and an outside surface; saidinside surface of said waste receptacle liner having a decorativeprinted pattern applied upon said inside surface; and said outsidesurface of said waste receptacle liner having a decorative printedpattern applied upon said inside surface.